Final answer:
The design characterized by a single group with continuous treatment and subsequent withdrawal in a time series is an experimental design, also known as an A-B-A or reversal design.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of design characterized by a single group with continuous treatment and subsequent withdrawal in a time series is known as an experimental design. This format is often referred to as an A-B-A design (or reversal design), where 'A' refers to a baseline (where no treatment is applied), and 'B' indicates the intervention phase. The removal of the treatment allows researchers to examine whether the behavior returns to baseline, showing the effect of the treatment. This approach is a powerful tool in experimental research for demonstrating the causal effects of an intervention. However, it's important to note that withdrawing a beneficial treatment for the sake of research can raise ethical concerns.
Key Points in Experimental Design
- In an experimental design, subjects are randomly assigned to treatment groups to eliminate bias and control for lurking variables.
- A control group receives a placebo treatment to maintain the integrity of the research and to confirm the efficacy of the active treatment.
- When it comes to data types, the number of times per week represents quantitative discrete data because it is a count of occurrences within a defined period. The duration or amount of time is quantitative continuous data because it can take on any value in a continuous range.
When we look at observational studies and correlational designs, the researcher does not manipulate variables and only observes natural occurrences. On the other hand, in an experimental design, the key difference is the experimental manipulation of variables. This allows for the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships between variables.